Poe vs. Shakespeare

WiseWizard · 06-24-2002, 01:44 PM

A friend and I have been debating over this issue for practically a year now, and neither of us are backing down. Therefore, i figure it should be brought out into the open. Who is better, in your opinion, Shakespeare or Poe?
Personally I have acted in 6 of good ol Will's plays, and am biased towards Shakespeare. However, I will be willing to hear any argument form either side of the debate.
Let the games begin!

***azalea*** · 06-24-2002, 02:30 PM

I enjoy them both for very different reasons, so I would have a hard time rating one above the other, but I guess if I had to pick which one I'd rather read if I could only choose one for the rest of my life it would be Shakespeare.

BeardofPants · 06-24-2002, 05:39 PM

They're both very different genres. Why pick which is best when you can celebrate the differences?

***Fat middle*** · 06-27-2002, 01:51 PM

the differences i this are too great. being Poe very good, Shakespeare is just the best

WiseWizard · 06-30-2002, 11:50 PM

Well, I really meant just in the whole literary sense, who do you like better. I see that Shakespeare is coming out on top, though.
So lets make this more interesting. Say that somehow Poe and Shakespeare are raised from the grave. They meet, and for some odd reason decide that the world is only big enough for one of them. What kind of contest/test might you choose to settle the dispute? And try to keep it fair. (for example, Shakespeare would have Poe beat in sonnets, but Poe would most likely send Shakespeare packing when it comes to morbidity. Therefore, don't have a contest on sonnets or morbid poems. Also, in a fistfight Shakespeare would most likely win, for Poe would most likely be extremely high and therefore unable to put up a good fight

)
Try to be imaginative, but fair!
Oh, and by the way BoP, the reason we can't "celebrate the differences" is because.....well........because there must be resolve! It's the battle of genius vs. insanity (of which there is not much difference....trust me

) and the winner must be decided!
So let the games begin!

Starr Polish · 07-01-2002, 01:00 AM

Shakespeare, by far. Poe's sentence structure is awful. I'm being serious, too. Ever read "The Fall of the House of Usher"? One of the sentences on the first page is incredibly long, drawn out, and run-on. I like Poe, especially "The Oval Portrait" (I think that's what it's called), but Shakespeare was a better writer.

sun-star · 07-01-2002, 03:05 PM

Definitely Shakespeare. He has had so much influence on literature, and added to the English language in an incredible way - and he's an an amazing thinker, who puts great profundity in a single line. Poe is good, but he doesn't come close. In terms of reputation, I wouldn't say he was even the second best writer ever.

As for a contest: well, Shakespeare could do morbidity. He wrote Hamlet, remember

I don't know... maybe who could write the longest sentence?

WiseWizard · 07-05-2002, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sun-star
As for a contest: well, Shakespeare could do morbidity. He wrote Hamlet, remember I don't know... maybe who could write the longest sentence?

Excellent, for both are known to keep going on and on.
And yes, I guess Shakespeare could do morbidity, though I think Poe would still beat him.

Darth Tater · 07-05-2002, 10:39 PM

A pound of flesh! Shakespeare had a much greater range then Poe.

WiseWizard · 07-06-2002, 06:49 PM

True. Shakespeare did have his moments of genius when it came to morbidity. Though, Poe must be acknowledged for coming up with so many strange and pointless stories.

Handmaiden of Yavanna · 07-12-2002, 03:10 PM

Shakespere! Definently Shakespere. I was in "Romeo and Juliet", I played Mercutio, and "Hamlet", I was Ophelia and am going to be in "A midsummer night's dream" this summer. I'm going to be Titania the faerie queen

I LOVE Shakespere!!! I have ever since I was ten years old. Poe scares me!

Eruviel Greenleaf · 07-13-2002, 02:48 AM

As much as I love morbidity (and thus Poe) I'd say Shakespeare. I am rather biased, mind, having been in several Shakespeare plays and having read more of his work, but. . .well. . .Shakespeare. Definitely. Seems a lot of people feel the same way. . .

WiseWizard · 07-24-2002, 02:18 AM

Okay....seeing as this thread is really going nowhere, I would like to request that this thread be closed so as to create an entirely new thread based simply on the Bard, his works, and trying to get the Pope to admit that Shakespeare is god.

Eruviel Greenleaf · 07-27-2002, 12:24 AM

Oh, really, Wise Wizard, and I was jsut about to think of a good competition for the two! Ah, but yes, there should be a thread solely for praising the Bard

(okay, I know this is horribly off-topic, but, Wise Wizard, I saw The Hobbit last weekend, and I just thought I'd mention that you are a great Gandalf (understatement)

)

***azalea*** · 07-27-2002, 01:24 PM

Edit: never mind, wrong thread!

WiseWizard · 07-27-2002, 01:51 PM

Well, EG....now you've got my interest. Let's hear your contest. Maybe I should just keep this thing running.......okay! Forget closing the thread! We shall have 2 threads dedicated to the Bard! This, and the "Bard of Avon" thread.
However, if this thread doesn't continue to intrigue me.......actually i don't really care. You people can take it to wherever you want to go with it.

WiseWizard · 07-27-2002, 01:53 PM

Oh, and thanks for the complement. PM me and let me know when you came, which parts you liked, etc.

Eruviel Greenleaf · 07-27-2002, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WiseWizard
Well, EG....now you've got my interest. Let's hear your contest. Maybe I should just keep this thing running.......okay! Forget closing the thread! We shall have 2 threads dedicated to the Bard! This, and the "Bard of Avon" thread.
However, if this thread doesn't continue to intrigue me.......actually i don't really care. You people can take it to wherever you want to go with it.

Oh no, I actually have to think of something now!

Okay, I'll come back in a day or two with something, I promise!

WiseWizard · 07-31-2002, 12:09 AM

You disappoint me EG. One should never lie to me. So, just to let you know, when i take over the world, I'll make sure to transport you to Antarctica, where you will be under the merciless rule of Tano.
However, if you can come up with something that pleases me, I shall be forgiving.

Eruviel Greenleaf · 07-31-2002, 02:07 AM

I don't lie...I just bend the truth

Hopeless, aren't I?

Well, I will think of something, not because I fear being in Antarctica under the merciless rule of Tano, mainly because you're not going to take over the world, that's my job, but because I said I would and I don't break promises.

That is, I will if my mind ever comes back. . .

06-24-2002, 01:44 PM	#1
WiseWizard Elven Warrior Join Date: May 2002 Location: the darkest region of Mirkwood (and trust me, it's really dark) Posts: 331	Poe vs. Shakespeare A friend and I have been debating over this issue for practically a year now, and neither of us are backing down. Therefore, i figure it should be brought out into the open. Who is better, in your opinion, Shakespeare or Poe? Personally I have acted in 6 of good ol Will's plays, and am biased towards Shakespeare. However, I will be willing to hear any argument form either side of the debate. Let the games begin! __________________ My motto: Heaven doesn't want me and hell's afraid I'll take over. ------------------------------------------------ "Upstage me and I'll crush your kneecaps!" ------------------------------------------------ "It's been a while since I've been 130." -Aaron Reichgott ------------------------------------------------ You know, the world's full of apathy...but I don't care. ------------------------------------------------ "I would've honked, but I might have hit you." -Janaki ------------------------------------------------ "If it weren't for my horse, I wouldn't have gone to college that year." -Lewis Black ------------------------------------------------ "I have one speed which varies according to my mood." -Kristy Pihl ------------------------------------------------ "When I get a fever, I can hear my mom's voice in my head. But she's alive, not dead, so it's not as exciting." -Anna Crandall ------------------------------------------------ "It doesn't matter what your body type is, as long as you're bloodthirsty." -Rachel Carlson ------------------------------------------------- "My mind is a whirling miasma." -Jeff E. ------------------------------------------------- "I think earth is the Alabama of the universe and we don't even know it." ------------------------------------------------- "You can't just apologize the laziness of my bunnies away." -Taylor S.B. ------------------------------------------------- I'm a sadistic massochist. I'm always happy.

06-24-2002, 05:39 PM	#3
BeardofPants the Shrike Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA <3 Posts: 10,647	They're both very different genres. Why pick which is best when you can celebrate the differences? __________________ "Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords

06-27-2002, 01:51 PM	#4
*Fat middle* Mootis per forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Spain Posts: 61,439	the differences i this are too great. being Poe very good, Shakespeare is just the best __________________ Do not be hasty. That is my motto. Now we'll have a drink and go to the Entmoot.

06-30-2002, 11:50 PM	#5
WiseWizard Elven Warrior Join Date: May 2002 Location: the darkest region of Mirkwood (and trust me, it's really dark) Posts: 331	Well, I really meant just in the whole literary sense, who do you like better. I see that Shakespeare is coming out on top, though. So lets make this more interesting. Say that somehow Poe and Shakespeare are raised from the grave. They meet, and for some odd reason decide that the world is only big enough for one of them. What kind of contest/test might you choose to settle the dispute? And try to keep it fair. (for example, Shakespeare would have Poe beat in sonnets, but Poe would most likely send Shakespeare packing when it comes to morbidity. Therefore, don't have a contest on sonnets or morbid poems. Also, in a fistfight Shakespeare would most likely win, for Poe would most likely be extremely high and therefore unable to put up a good fight ) Try to be imaginative, but fair! Oh, and by the way BoP, the reason we can't "celebrate the differences" is because.....well........because there must be resolve! It's the battle of genius vs. insanity (of which there is not much difference....trust me ) and the winner must be decided! So let the games begin! __________________ My motto: Heaven doesn't want me and hell's afraid I'll take over. ------------------------------------------------ "Upstage me and I'll crush your kneecaps!" ------------------------------------------------ "It's been a while since I've been 130." -Aaron Reichgott ------------------------------------------------ You know, the world's full of apathy...but I don't care. ------------------------------------------------ "I would've honked, but I might have hit you." -Janaki ------------------------------------------------ "If it weren't for my horse, I wouldn't have gone to college that year." -Lewis Black ------------------------------------------------ "I have one speed which varies according to my mood." -Kristy Pihl ------------------------------------------------ "When I get a fever, I can hear my mom's voice in my head. But she's alive, not dead, so it's not as exciting." -Anna Crandall ------------------------------------------------ "It doesn't matter what your body type is, as long as you're bloodthirsty." -Rachel Carlson ------------------------------------------------- "My mind is a whirling miasma." -Jeff E. ------------------------------------------------- "I think earth is the Alabama of the universe and we don't even know it." ------------------------------------------------- "You can't just apologize the laziness of my bunnies away." -Taylor S.B. ------------------------------------------------- I'm a sadistic massochist. I'm always happy.

07-01-2002, 01:00 AM	#6
Starr Polish Elf Lord Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Slow down and I sail on the river, slow down and I walk to the hill Posts: 2,389	Shakespeare, by far. Poe's sentence structure is awful. I'm being serious, too. Ever read "The Fall of the House of Usher"? One of the sentences on the first page is incredibly long, drawn out, and run-on. I like Poe, especially "The Oval Portrait" (I think that's what it's called), but Shakespeare was a better writer. __________________ “The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.” –Bertrand Russell

06-24-2002, 02:30 PM	#2
*azalea* Long lost mooter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 3,342	I enjoy them both for very different reasons, so I would have a hard time rating one above the other, but I guess if I had to pick which one I'd rather read if I could only choose one for the rest of my life it would be Shakespeare.

07-01-2002, 03:05 PM	#7
sun-star Lady of Letters Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Either Oxford or Kent, England Posts: 2,476	Definitely Shakespeare. He has had so much influence on literature, and added to the English language in an incredible way - and he's an an amazing thinker, who puts great profundity in a single line. Poe is good, but he doesn't come close. In terms of reputation, I wouldn't say he was even the second best writer ever. As for a contest: well, Shakespeare could do morbidity. He wrote Hamlet, remember I don't know... maybe who could write the longest sentence? __________________ And all the time the waves, the waves, the waves Chase, intersect and flatten on the sand As they have done for centuries, as they will For centuries to come, when not a soul Is left to picnic on the blazing rocks, When England is not England, when mankind Has blown himself to pieces. Still the sea, Consolingly disastrous, will return While the strange starfish, hugely magnified, Waits in the jewelled basin of a pool.

07-05-2002, 10:39 PM	#9
Darth Tater The man Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: MA Posts: 4,572	A pound of flesh! Shakespeare had a much greater range then Poe. __________________ Visit the worlds greatest webpage! No, not The Tolkien Trail! Just click this! The Tolkien Trail ~Camelot

07-06-2002, 06:49 PM	#10
WiseWizard Elven Warrior Join Date: May 2002 Location: the darkest region of Mirkwood (and trust me, it's really dark) Posts: 331	True. Shakespeare did have his moments of genius when it came to morbidity. Though, Poe must be acknowledged for coming up with so many strange and pointless stories. __________________ My motto: Heaven doesn't want me and hell's afraid I'll take over. ------------------------------------------------ "Upstage me and I'll crush your kneecaps!" ------------------------------------------------ "It's been a while since I've been 130." -Aaron Reichgott ------------------------------------------------ You know, the world's full of apathy...but I don't care. ------------------------------------------------ "I would've honked, but I might have hit you." -Janaki ------------------------------------------------ "If it weren't for my horse, I wouldn't have gone to college that year." -Lewis Black ------------------------------------------------ "I have one speed which varies according to my mood." -Kristy Pihl ------------------------------------------------ "When I get a fever, I can hear my mom's voice in my head. But she's alive, not dead, so it's not as exciting." -Anna Crandall ------------------------------------------------ "It doesn't matter what your body type is, as long as you're bloodthirsty." -Rachel Carlson ------------------------------------------------- "My mind is a whirling miasma." -Jeff E. ------------------------------------------------- "I think earth is the Alabama of the universe and we don't even know it." ------------------------------------------------- "You can't just apologize the laziness of my bunnies away." -Taylor S.B. ------------------------------------------------- I'm a sadistic massochist. I'm always happy.

07-12-2002, 03:10 PM	#11
Handmaiden of Yavanna Elven Warrior Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: The far and fair West of California:) Posts: 101	Shakespere! Definently Shakespere. I was in "Romeo and Juliet", I played Mercutio, and "Hamlet", I was Ophelia and am going to be in "A midsummer night's dream" this summer. I'm going to be Titania the faerie queen I LOVE Shakespere!!! I have ever since I was ten years old. Poe scares me! __________________ She wandered wayward for a time, from the gardens of the gods to climb the everlasting mountains free that look upon the outmost sea, and never wandered back but stayed softly singing from glade to glade.

07-13-2002, 02:48 AM	#12
Eruviel Greenleaf Alcoholic Villain-Fancying Elf Pirate Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Lyonesse Posts: 4,547	As much as I love morbidity (and thus Poe) I'd say Shakespeare. I am rather biased, mind, having been in several Shakespeare plays and having read more of his work, but. . .well. . .Shakespeare. Definitely. Seems a lot of people feel the same way. . . __________________ Eruviel Greenleaf in a past life. "Whoever has come to understand the world has found only a corpse, and whoever has found a corpse is superior to the world." -The Gospel of Thomas SQUAWK!

07-24-2002, 02:18 AM	#13
WiseWizard Elven Warrior Join Date: May 2002 Location: the darkest region of Mirkwood (and trust me, it's really dark) Posts: 331	Okay....seeing as this thread is really going nowhere, I would like to request that this thread be closed so as to create an entirely new thread based simply on the Bard, his works, and trying to get the Pope to admit that Shakespeare is god. __________________ My motto: Heaven doesn't want me and hell's afraid I'll take over. ------------------------------------------------ "Upstage me and I'll crush your kneecaps!" ------------------------------------------------ "It's been a while since I've been 130." -Aaron Reichgott ------------------------------------------------ You know, the world's full of apathy...but I don't care. ------------------------------------------------ "I would've honked, but I might have hit you." -Janaki ------------------------------------------------ "If it weren't for my horse, I wouldn't have gone to college that year." -Lewis Black ------------------------------------------------ "I have one speed which varies according to my mood." -Kristy Pihl ------------------------------------------------ "When I get a fever, I can hear my mom's voice in my head. But she's alive, not dead, so it's not as exciting." -Anna Crandall ------------------------------------------------ "It doesn't matter what your body type is, as long as you're bloodthirsty." -Rachel Carlson ------------------------------------------------- "My mind is a whirling miasma." -Jeff E. ------------------------------------------------- "I think earth is the Alabama of the universe and we don't even know it." ------------------------------------------------- "You can't just apologize the laziness of my bunnies away." -Taylor S.B. ------------------------------------------------- I'm a sadistic massochist. I'm always happy.

07-27-2002, 12:24 AM	#14
Eruviel Greenleaf Alcoholic Villain-Fancying Elf Pirate Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Lyonesse Posts: 4,547	Oh, really, Wise Wizard, and I was jsut about to think of a good competition for the two! Ah, but yes, there should be a thread solely for praising the Bard (okay, I know this is horribly off-topic, but, Wise Wizard, I saw The Hobbit last weekend, and I just thought I'd mention that you are a great Gandalf (understatement) ) __________________ Eruviel Greenleaf in a past life. "Whoever has come to understand the world has found only a corpse, and whoever has found a corpse is superior to the world." -The Gospel of Thomas SQUAWK!

07-27-2002, 01:24 PM	#15
*azalea* Long lost mooter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 3,342	Edit: never mind, wrong thread! Last edited by azalea : 07-27-2002 at 01:25 PM.

07-27-2002, 01:51 PM	#16
WiseWizard Elven Warrior Join Date: May 2002 Location: the darkest region of Mirkwood (and trust me, it's really dark) Posts: 331	Well, EG....now you've got my interest. Let's hear your contest. Maybe I should just keep this thing running.......okay! Forget closing the thread! We shall have 2 threads dedicated to the Bard! This, and the "Bard of Avon" thread. However, if this thread doesn't continue to intrigue me.......actually i don't really care. You people can take it to wherever you want to go with it. __________________ My motto: Heaven doesn't want me and hell's afraid I'll take over. ------------------------------------------------ "Upstage me and I'll crush your kneecaps!" ------------------------------------------------ "It's been a while since I've been 130." -Aaron Reichgott ------------------------------------------------ You know, the world's full of apathy...but I don't care. ------------------------------------------------ "I would've honked, but I might have hit you." -Janaki ------------------------------------------------ "If it weren't for my horse, I wouldn't have gone to college that year." -Lewis Black ------------------------------------------------ "I have one speed which varies according to my mood." -Kristy Pihl ------------------------------------------------ "When I get a fever, I can hear my mom's voice in my head. But she's alive, not dead, so it's not as exciting." -Anna Crandall ------------------------------------------------ "It doesn't matter what your body type is, as long as you're bloodthirsty." -Rachel Carlson ------------------------------------------------- "My mind is a whirling miasma." -Jeff E. ------------------------------------------------- "I think earth is the Alabama of the universe and we don't even know it." ------------------------------------------------- "You can't just apologize the laziness of my bunnies away." -Taylor S.B. ------------------------------------------------- I'm a sadistic massochist. I'm always happy.

07-27-2002, 01:53 PM	#17
WiseWizard Elven Warrior Join Date: May 2002 Location: the darkest region of Mirkwood (and trust me, it's really dark) Posts: 331	Oh, and thanks for the complement. PM me and let me know when you came, which parts you liked, etc. __________________ My motto: Heaven doesn't want me and hell's afraid I'll take over. ------------------------------------------------ "Upstage me and I'll crush your kneecaps!" ------------------------------------------------ "It's been a while since I've been 130." -Aaron Reichgott ------------------------------------------------ You know, the world's full of apathy...but I don't care. ------------------------------------------------ "I would've honked, but I might have hit you." -Janaki ------------------------------------------------ "If it weren't for my horse, I wouldn't have gone to college that year." -Lewis Black ------------------------------------------------ "I have one speed which varies according to my mood." -Kristy Pihl ------------------------------------------------ "When I get a fever, I can hear my mom's voice in my head. But she's alive, not dead, so it's not as exciting." -Anna Crandall ------------------------------------------------ "It doesn't matter what your body type is, as long as you're bloodthirsty." -Rachel Carlson ------------------------------------------------- "My mind is a whirling miasma." -Jeff E. ------------------------------------------------- "I think earth is the Alabama of the universe and we don't even know it." ------------------------------------------------- "You can't just apologize the laziness of my bunnies away." -Taylor S.B. ------------------------------------------------- I'm a sadistic massochist. I'm always happy.

07-31-2002, 12:09 AM	#19
WiseWizard Elven Warrior Join Date: May 2002 Location: the darkest region of Mirkwood (and trust me, it's really dark) Posts: 331	You disappoint me EG. One should never lie to me. So, just to let you know, when i take over the world, I'll make sure to transport you to Antarctica, where you will be under the merciless rule of Tano. However, if you can come up with something that pleases me, I shall be forgiving. __________________ My motto: Heaven doesn't want me and hell's afraid I'll take over. ------------------------------------------------ "Upstage me and I'll crush your kneecaps!" ------------------------------------------------ "It's been a while since I've been 130." -Aaron Reichgott ------------------------------------------------ You know, the world's full of apathy...but I don't care. ------------------------------------------------ "I would've honked, but I might have hit you." -Janaki ------------------------------------------------ "If it weren't for my horse, I wouldn't have gone to college that year." -Lewis Black ------------------------------------------------ "I have one speed which varies according to my mood." -Kristy Pihl ------------------------------------------------ "When I get a fever, I can hear my mom's voice in my head. But she's alive, not dead, so it's not as exciting." -Anna Crandall ------------------------------------------------ "It doesn't matter what your body type is, as long as you're bloodthirsty." -Rachel Carlson ------------------------------------------------- "My mind is a whirling miasma." -Jeff E. ------------------------------------------------- "I think earth is the Alabama of the universe and we don't even know it." ------------------------------------------------- "You can't just apologize the laziness of my bunnies away." -Taylor S.B. ------------------------------------------------- I'm a sadistic massochist. I'm always happy.

07-31-2002, 02:07 AM	#20
Eruviel Greenleaf Alcoholic Villain-Fancying Elf Pirate Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Lyonesse Posts: 4,547	I don't lie...I just bend the truth Hopeless, aren't I? Well, I will think of something, not because I fear being in Antarctica under the merciless rule of Tano, mainly because you're not going to take over the world, that's my job, but because I said I would and I don't break promises. That is, I will if my mind ever comes back. . . __________________ Eruviel Greenleaf in a past life. "Whoever has come to understand the world has found only a corpse, and whoever has found a corpse is superior to the world." -The Gospel of Thomas SQUAWK!

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